Brake beam safety support



Feb. 25, 1947. 1.. w. KASS BRAKE BEAM SAFETY SUPPORT Filed April 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 25; 1947.

L. w. KAss v BRAKE BEAM SAFETY 'SU1?PORT Filed April 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 25, 1947.

| .1w. KAss BRAKE BEAM SAFETY SUPPORT Filed April 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 25, 1947 BRAKE BEAM SAFETY SUPPORT Lawrence W. Kass, Chicago,Ill., assignor to Grip Nut Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 26, 1944, Serial No. 532,808

' Claims. 1

This invention relates toza brake beam safety support and more especially, it relates to safety supports capable of use in connection with brake mechanism in which the brakes are applied from the ends of the truck frame and toward each other or are applied in a'direction outward from the interior of the truck, and one of the ob- J'ects of this invention is the provision of a safety support which may be readily applied to the car truck and brake beams without the use of special tools.

Another object is "the provision of a safetysupport for brake beams which is arranged to be secured to a frame member'of the, truck and to a member of the brake beam and arranged to permit normal functioning of the brake mechanism in case the brake shoe is worn away considerably, or in case the tread of the car awheel associated with said brake :shoe isworn down.

Another object 'isithe provision of a safety upport arranged to be secured to .an end frame member of the truck and to a member of the brake beam whereby sto support an end of the brake beam in the event of failure .of the brake hanger at :that end of the brake beam. v

Another object is the provision of ca brake 'beam safety support which-is arranged to be suspended from an end frame member of the truck and capable of supporting an end :of the brake beam free "and clearof thera'il in case of "failure of the brake hanger at that end, said support functioning to permit the application of the brakes in the usual manner.

vA brake hanger may .fail from many causes, one of which is failure -at the brake hanger bracket. In accordance with the 'usualpractice, the hanger is retained 'on the hanger bracket by a bolt, pin,wedges or the like, and-when one of these securing means becomes loose and falls out of place, it release the wear plates for the hanger, an'dthey fall out of the hanger bracket,

from the hanger bracket and allowing that end of the brake 'beam'to fall; and oneof the objects of this invention is to secure the :upper :end of, a safety support, cablepor'other supporting member to an end frame member of the car truck,

whereby there is no likelihood .of the cable bedimensions that are prevalent in the trucks actually in use; whereby the stocking of manysizes and-kinds of safety supports may be avoided, the application 'of the safety support may be simplified and adjustment made in the field, when the use of the support makes this desirable, by relatively unskilled workers capable of handling a simple wrench as a tool.

With these and other .objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in theseveral novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed. a i 1 This invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification in which:

Fig. :1 is a plan of one corner of the frame of a car truck, illustrating a simple form of (the present invention appliedthereto and providing a safety support for a brake beam;

Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the parts seen in- Fig. a

permitting the hanger to become disconnected I Fig.3 :is a vertical cross-section taken on the line v3-3 of Fig. 1 andshowing the brake applied against a car wheel; V

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. ,3, but showing the brake shoe worn awayand the tread of the car wheel worn down;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the brake applied to the car wheelasiit appearswhen a brake hanger has failed; s

Fig. 6 is 'a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the'brakes released; 4 r

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper cable gripping member showing itsecured upon anend frame member of a truck; 7

Fig. "8 is a perspective view of the lower cable gripping member and afragment zyof the-associated'brake members of a brake beam;

Fig.9 is a .detaillongitudinal section taken 0 the line 99 of Fig. 2 ,-:through the body of the upper cable gripping member; .and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view'of a modifiedform of an upper cable gripping member showing the same applied to an endframe member of the truck;

Referring to said drawings, and first to Figs.-

1 to9 inclusive, the reference character 'Il designates a fragment of a rectangular framev of a car truck from which the brake beams and associated parts are suspended. I'Theframe lf l comprises longitudinallside :frame members, one

of which is shown "at ill-and endframeimembers, one of which is rshown'at 13. These frame L-mem- 7 s are usualr of channel construction and are welded together at the comers or otherwise rigidly fastened together. As here shown, a brake hanger bracket [4 is welded to the frame II at the corners where the brake hangers are located, and is formed with a forked member [5 in which the upper end of the associated brake hanger I6 is pivotally suspended in the conventional manner. The brake hanger is here shownas of the closed loop or link formation with its lower end extending through one of the grooves in the brake head I! and held in place therein by the brake shoe l8 in the conventional manner.

. The brake beam I!) may comprise the usual compression bar 19 and tension rod 20 secured upon the brake heads II at the ends of the compression bar-as by nuts 20a. A conventional braking mechanism (not shown) is connected with the brake beam for applying the brakes to the car wheels, a fragment of one of which is shown at 2|. The brake heads I! arerigidly mounted upon the compression bar l9 of' the .brake beam, and the latter, together with the brake heads and brake shoes, are normally suspended from the brake hanger brackets by'the hangers l6. i

The safety support forming the subject matter of this specification is illustrated as a whole at 22. In accordance with its preferred form, the safety support comprises a non-rigid supporting member such as a semi-rigid cable 23 capable of flexing when subjected to severe strain, and the upper'end of said cable is rigidly secured in a cable gripping member 24 that is bolted or otherwisesecured to one side of the end frame member I3. -Th'e lower end of the cable is rigidly secured in a second cable gripping member 25 fastened upon a member of the brake beam. 3

In general, each cable gripping member comprises a body26 or 21 (see Figs. '7, 8 and 9) hav ing a transversely and obliquely extending openframe member or against interposed lock washers 31b and rigidly secure the cable gripping member to end frame member. 7

The lower cable gripping member 25 may be secured to the tension rod 20 of the brake beam by a U-bolt 38 (see Fig. 8)' as shown and described in my aforesaid co-pending application. The bend of the U-bolt extends around the tension rod 20 and its two legs 39 extend through holes in the body 21 of the cable gripping member and have nuts 40 threaded upon their upper ends which, when tightened up, clamp the tension rod firmly between the bendof the U-bolt and the lower end face of the body. Obviously, other equivalent means may be provided for clamping the'body of the lowercable gripping member to the brake beam.

The cable extends from the upper cable gripping member in a downwardly sloping direction and passes through the lower cable gripping member in a substantially vertical direction and, under normal conditions, with the brakes applied,

the cable is bent intermediate its ends into a" bowed or arcuate shape, as seen-in Fig. 3. This is the normal condition of the cable under ordinary circumstances with the brakes applied and without any appreciable wear upon the brake shoe or car wheel. a

In theevent that the'brake shoe is worn down or ifthe wheel is worn down, then with the .brakes applied, the cable will be straightened out somewhat as is seen in Fig. 4. For this reason,

* when equipping a car with the present safety supportfthe cable should be made of sufficient length and its lower end so adjusted in the lower cable gripping member, that in case of an"ex'- ing 28 therein for the reception of an endportion of the cable, said opening being flanked by a larger opening 29 on one side, in which is contained a wedge block 30 that impinges upon a wall of the opening 29 and upon the cable. and is preferably formed with teeth 3l'that bite into the cable and effectively anchor it to the cable gripping member.

fiA more complete description and illustration of the body and wedge block is contained in my co-pending application for patent on Safety'su'pport for brake beam, Serial "Nor-461,538, filed October 10, 1942, now Patent No; 2,364,221, dated December 5, 1944, tofwhich reference may be had for a fuller understanding of its construcso far as this specification is concerned but the one disclosed in my said co-pending application will sufiice for the present disclosure. 7

The upper cable gripping memberis formed with two oppositely "disposed radially extending arms 32 (see Fig. 7) reinforced by ribs 33 which radiate from the body 26 andextend to points adjacent the ends of the arms where said arms are thickened somewhat as at '34, and are formed with recesses 35 therein 'to receivethe heads of bolts 35. The side walls of the recesses are non-circular andserve to prevent rotationof the bolts. The latter extend through apertures in the bottoms of the recessesiext'end through bolt holes in the uprightlweb of the) end frame member l3 and have nuts 31 threaded upon theirends thatlbear.;against theoppo'sit'eside of the and treme condition, as seen in Fig. 4, there 'will be suflicient length of cable to enable the brakes'to be applied with some slack left in the cable. The dot anddash line X in'this figure indicates the original treadline of the wheel. In the event that the brake hanger becomes broken or is torn loosefrom its brake hanger bracket, or for any other. failure of the brake hanger, then that end ofthe brake beam where the hanger has failed becomes suspended by-the safety support and when the brakes are applied, the parts assume the position seen in Fig. 5 in which the cable has been straightened out some what and depends from the upper cable gripping member in a more nearly vertical direction, the 1 brake beam, brake heads and'brake shoes being suspended a considerable distance above the rails, whereby no damage is likely to come to them, with no likelihood of'derailme'nt. 'If either brake hangerfails-and the brakes 'are released, theassociated safetyisupport will still suspend the adjacent end of the brake beam and its brake head-and brake shoefrom the'upe per cable gripping member free and clear 'of the rail. This extremeposition of the parts due to the failure of'a brake hanger withthe released is seen in Fig. 6. In the modified form of upper cable gripping member 25d'seen in Fig. 10, twoangularly dis-j posed arms 32a, 32b, project radiallyfrom the body 26a of the cable grippingm'ember, thearm 32a extending upwardly in an oblique direction and the arm 32b extending downwardly.

This form of upper -cable' grippingmember'; is

intended for use in connection with endfr'ame;

members where the ,desideratum is to eliminate bolt holes'there'in for the bolts, and consequently the aperturesi'n' the'arms 32a, 32b for the bolts; "are located one immediately aboveand onetime.

brakes 'mediately below the .end frame member 13 so that the bolts may extend one 'above and one below said end frame member. For fastening the cable gripping member -a :upon the end frame member, an apertured bar 4] is provided which is placed against the edges .of the flanges of the end frame member and the bolts 36aare passed through the apertures in the bar, the .nuts :37a placed upon the bolts and screwed up tightly against the bar. .The'endpo'f'the passage or :opening 23a in the :body 26a .adja'centrth'e end frame member [3 is disposed above the top :face of said frame member, which permits the end .of the cable to protrude from thatcend inf the body; With this arrangement, the -.cable :can be ad-- 'justed relative to the body, so asto increase :or decrease sits length between the two cable gripping-members.

' [From the above it is apparent thatavery useful and efficient safety support has been provided which can be readily installed without use of special tools. Where the preferred form of upper cable gripping member is usedgthe end frame member must be drilled. Except for this operation, a wrench is the only tool required to install the safety support, and when the form of upper cable gripping member shown in Fig. 10 is used,

it is unnecessary to drill the end frame member for the-bolts. Furthermore, each safety support is .always ready to support an end of a brakebeam in'case of failure of the brake hanger at that end of the brake beam. Moreover, the safety support does notinterferewith the proper functioning of the brake hanger or the remainder of the brake mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to Letters Patent is:

1. A brake beam safety support comprising a semi-rigid cable capable of flexing when subjected to severe strain, an upper cable gripping body member having radially extending apertured arms through which bolts may be passed to secure the upper gripping body member upon a frame member of a truck, said body member having an opening therethrough in which'one end of the cable is received, a wedge block in said opening bearing against a wall thereof and against the secure by cable, and a second cable gripping member adustably secured upon the other end of the cable and having fastening means whereby to secure the same to a brake beam member.

2. A brake beam safety support comprising a semi-rigid cable capable of flexing when subjected to severe strain, an upper cable gripping body member having oppositely directed radially extending apertured arms through which bolts may be passed to secure the gripping body member upon a frame member of a truck, said body member having an opening therethrough in which one end of the cable is received, a wedge block in said opening bearing against a wall thereof and against the cable, and a second cable gripping member adjustably secured upon the other end of the cable and having fastening means whereby to fixedly secure the same to a brake beam member. I

3. A brake beam safety support comprising a nuts threadedon said bolts and bearingagainst said bar .to rigidly secure the gripping member upon :said frame member, and a second cable gripping member adjustably secured upon the other end .of the cable and having fastening means whereby to secure the same upon a brake beam member. .4. A brake beam safety support comprising .9. semi-rigid cable capable of flexing when subjected to severe strain, a cable gripping body member having radially extending .apertured arms through which bolts may be passed to secure thecable gripping body member upon a frame member "of atruck,-:said body-member having an opening therethrough in which one end ofthe cable is received, a wedge block in said body bearing against a wall thereof and against the cable, and a second cable gripping member adjustably secured upon the other end of the cable and having a U bolt"arranged to extend through the body of the second named cable gripping member with the, tension .rod of a brake beam fixedly secured between the bend of the U-bolt and'one end face of the body of the second named cable gripping member. I

5. A brake beam safety support comprising ,a semi-rigid cable capable of flexing when subjected to severe strain, a cable gripping body member having angularly disposed radially extending apertured arms through which bolts may be passed to secure the gripping body member upon a frame memberof a truck, said body member having an opening therethrough in which one end of the cable is received, a wedge block in said opening bearing against a wall thereof and against the cable, and a second cable gripping member adjustably secured upon the other end of the cable and having fastening means whereby to fixedly secure said second named gripping member to a brake beam member.

6. A brake beam safety support comprising a semi-rigid cable capable of flexing when subjected to severe strains, a cable gripping member having means for securing the same upon one side of an end frame member of a truck frame, said gripping member having a passage therethrough extending transversely thereof and terminating at one end above the plane of said end frame member of the truck frame whereby an end of the cable may protrude beyond the rear end of the gripping member, a wedge block in said gripping member in wedging engagement with the cable, and said cable being adjustable in said gripping membenand a lower cable gripping member adjustably secured upon the other end of the cable and having a U-bolt arranged to extend through the lower cable gripping member with the tension rod of a'brake beam seeuredbetween the bend an end frame member of a truck, and a lower cable gripping body having a, U-bolt with its legs extending through said body with the tension rod of a brake beam clamped between the bend of the U-bolt and an end face of the body, each cable gripping body having a passage there-- through for the reception of an end of the cable and having also'a tapered hole flanking said passage, and a wedge block seated in said hole in gripping engagement with the cable.

: 8. A brake beam safety support comprising a semi-rigid cable capable of flexing when subjected to severe strains, an upper cable gripping body having supporting arms rigidly secured to an end frame member of a car truck, and a lower cable gripping body having a U-bolt with its legs extending through said body with a tensionrod of a brake beam clamped between the bend of the U-bolt and an end face of the body, each of the cable gripping bodies having a passage therethrough for the reception of an end of the 7 cable and having a tapered hole flanking said passage, and a wedge block seated in said hole with one face contiguous with said cable, said face having teeth thereon impinged against the cable.

9.'In a brake beam safety support, the combination of a semierigid cable capable of flexing when subjected to severe strain, and upper and lower cable gripping body members, one on each end of the cable, each body'memberhaving an opening therethrough for receiving an end of the cable, a' wedge block in said opening bearing against a wall thereof and against the-cable, the upper cable gripping member having a cable gripping body provided with arms whereby to'rigidly secure the same to an end frame member of a cartruck andthe other having means to secure the same to the tension rod of a brake beam.

' 10. A brake beam safety support for car trucks comprising a semi-rigid cable, a cable gripping body member arranged to be bolted to a member of a truck frame, said body member having'a tapered opening therethrough for receiving'an end of the cable, a'tapered wedge block in said opening bearing against a wall thereof and against the cable, and a second'cable gripping body member having .a tapered opening therein through which the other end of' the cable extends,- a tapered wedge block in saidopening bearing against a wall thereof and against the cable, and

a U-bolt extending around the. tension rod of'a brakebeam and extending through the second named cable gripping member, and having nuts threaded upon its ends for fixedly securing the second named cable gripping member to said tension rod. V

V LAWRENCE W. KASS. j

REFERENCES CITED The followingrefere nces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,234,029 Heckeridorf Mar. 4, 194 1 

